Wednesday, January 21, 1998Last modified at 1:26 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 1998

Candidate wants bigger programs, smaller agency

By MIKE W. THOMAS

Avalanche-Journal

Houston millionaire David Dewhurst, a Republican candidate for land commissioner, believes government is too big. But whenever he talks about his plans for office, his speech is filled with words such as "expansion" and "growth."

During a campaign stop in Lubbock on Tuesday, Dewhurst said he wants to expand the veterans programs that are overseen by the land commissioner. He also wants the agency to focus more on asset management, which he said will result in millions more dollars for public education.

The land commissioner oversees 20 million acres of public lands, which generate millions of dollars for education, he said. It is also responsible for programs that make low-interest loans to veterans.

More than 90 percent of Texas veterans fail to take advantage of the programs offered through the Land Commissioner's Office, Dewhurst said.

"I want to do more for our veterans," he said. "I would like to promote and expand that program.

"At the same time, I want to help generate millions more for education by more aggressively taking our royalty income in-kind and marketing that to maximize our income."

Dewhurst, 52, is the founder and chief executive officer of Falcon Scaboard Holdings, an energy and investment company based in Houston. He said his business background makes him the most qualified person to run the land commission office.

"I'm in this race because I am a businessman," he said. "It bothers me to see government growing. I want this agency to be smaller and more efficient."

When asked how he intends to shrink the agency overall while expanding some aspects of it, Dewhurst said he is confident that there is redundancy in personnel within the agency.

"I can run the agency more effectively and more efficiently than it has been in the last several decades," he said.

Dewhurst dismissed recent news reports that he had offered one of hisi opponents money to get out of the race. State Sen. Jerry Patterson, R-Houston, who is also a candidate for land commissioner, told Harris County prosecutors about the incident in December.

Patterson decided not to pursue the matter after prosecutors asked him to wear a wire and record another conversation with Dewhurst. State Rep. Richard Raymond, the only Democratic candidate in the race, has called for the matter to be probed by authorities.

"This was a transparent attempt by certain politicians to get their names in the news," Dewhurst said. "Patterson has said that nothing improper ever took place. The conversation was both casual and proper that took place between the two of us."

Dewhurst, the former finance chairman for the Republican Party of Texas, has contributed money to numerous Republican campaigns including Patterson's past bids for the state senate.

Dewhurst said he expects to take shots likesuch this because he is now considered the frontrunner in the race. Other Republicans in the race include Houston businessman Tim Turner and retired Air Force officer Don Loucks of Bastrop.